Supervisors hear experts and community calls for overhaul of SFPD use-of-force policies

San Francisco supervisors convened a wide-ranging hearing Jan. 21 to evaluate alternatives to police use of force after recent fatal encounters and to review SFPD General Orders 5.01 and 5.02, which the committee was told date in part to 1995. Supervisor Malia Cohen opened the session with a moment of silence for victims and framed the discussion around policy, training and culture change.

Experts and advocacy groups told the committee that policy updates alone are insufficient. Aaron Zisser, a former U.S. Department of Justice trial attorney, summarized national data showing racial disparities and a high rate of mental-health involvement in police encounters and urged a multi-system approach that links police reform to community mental-health services. "There has to be the involvement of advocates, the community, families, affected individuals," Zisser said, urging that affected groups be given "a seat at the table." He contrasted DOJ pattern-of-practice investigations, which enforce constitutional standards, with technical assistance and local consultant…